[106th Congress Public Law 153]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ153.106]
Public Law 106-153
106th Congress
An Act
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the
Congress to Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, in recognition of his
outstanding and enduring contributions to civil rights, higher
education, the Catholic Church, the Nation, and the global
community. <<NOTE: Dec. 9, 1999 - [H.R. 1932]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Father Theodore M. Hesburgh
Congressional Gold Medal Act. 31 USC 5111 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Father Theodore M. Hesburgh
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., has made
outstanding and enduring contributions to American society
through his activities in civil rights, higher education, the
Catholic Church, the Nation, and the global community;
(2) Father Hesburgh was a charter member of the United
States Commission on Civil Rights from its creation in 1957 and
served as chairperson of the Commission from 1969 to 1972;
(3) Father Hesburgh was president of the University of Notre
Dame from 1952 until 1987, and has been president emeritus since
1987;
(4) Father Hesburgh is a national and international leader
in higher education;
(5) Father Hesburgh has been honored with the Elizabeth Ann
Seton Award from the National Catholic Education Association and
with more than 130 honorary degrees;
(6) Father Hesburgh served as co-chairperson of the
nationally influential Knight Commission on Intercollegiate
Athletics and as chairperson, from 1994 to 1996, of the Board of
Overseers of Harvard University;
(7) Father Hesburgh served under President Ford as a member
of the Presidential Clemency Board, charged with deciding the
fates of persons committing offenses during the Vietnam
conflict;
(8) Father Hesburgh served as chairman of the board of the
Overseas Development Council and in that capacity led
fundraising efforts that averted mass starvation in Cambodia in
1979 and 1980;
(9) Father Hesburgh served from 1979 to 1981 as chairperson
of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy,
which made recommendations that served as the basis of
congressional reform legislation enacted 5 years later;
(10) Father Hesburgh served as ambassador to the 1979 United
Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development;
and
(11) Father Hesburgh has served the Catholic Church in a
variety of capacities, including his service from 1956 to 1970
as the permanent Vatican representative to the International
Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and his service as a member of
the Holy See's delegation to the United Nations.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized to
present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design
to Father Theodore M. Hesburgh in recognition of his outstanding and
enduring contributions to civil rights, higher education, the Catholic
Church, the Nation, and the global community.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (in this Act
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the
Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS.
The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for
purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
charged against the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to
exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medal authorized by this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sales of duplicate
bronze medals under section 4 shall be deposited in the Numismatic
Public Enterprise Fund.
Approved December 9, 1999.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1932:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
Oct. 12, considered and passed House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.
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